Gas pressure operated gun



Oct. 27, `1936. A MAREK 2,058,897

GAS PRESSURE OPERATED GUN Filed Oct. 24, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l www? fn/p17 /Yl "gk INVENTOR W ATTORNEY 0d. 27, 1.936. A, MAREK 2,058,897

GAS PRESSURE OPERATED GUN Filed OG.. 24, 1933 3 She'etS-Sheeb 2 INVENTOR BY 6 e Klv ATTORNEY Aff/fan MC2-milf Oct. 27, 1936. A, MAREK 2,058,897

GAS PRESSURE OPERATED GUN Filed Oct. 24, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.;

INVENTOR (4, ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 27, 1936 GAS PRESSURE OPERATED GUN Anton Marek, Vienna. Austria, assigner to firm Ceskoslovenska Zbroiovka Akclova Spolecnost v Brne, Brne, Czechoslovakia Application October 24, 1933, Serial No. 694,941 In Germany ctober 31, 1932 11 Claims.

'I'he present invention relates to automatic guns, in particular to machine guns, which work on the gas pressure loading principle. The object of the invention is to provide a gas pressure loader which, even .when using powder of inferior quality, which on combustion leaves considerable combustion sediment, possesses great reliability of operation, so that even with continuous ring the gas pressure motor of the gun, which is driven by the explosion gases, is not prejudiced in its operation by the combustion sediment.

A number of constructional examples of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 illustrates one constructional example of the invention and in this figure the middle portion of the gun is shown in longitudinal section with the gas piston occupying its forward position (i. e. with the breech closed).

Fig. 2 illustrates, in a longitudinal section similar to that shown in Fig. 1, the parts in question of the gun with the gas piston driven back (i. e. with the breech opened).

Fig. 3 is a cross section on line III- III of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 are cross sections on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1 with the parts shown in two different positions.

Fig. 6 is a right side elevation of the middle portion of the gun.

Fig. 7 illustrates a second constructional example of the invention showing the middle portion of the gun in partial longitudinal section.

Fig. 8 illustrates a third constructional example of the invention also showing the middle portion of the gun in longitudinal section.

Fig. 9 illustrates a cross section on line IX-IX of Fig. 8.

In the constructional example illustrated in the drawings, I is the barrel which is removably secured to the gun in any convenient manner. 2 is a connecting piece slid over the barrel and secured thereto by a bolt 3; the connecting piece can be removed from the gun together with the barrel. 5 is a hole in the barrel for the passage of the explosion gases into a gas pressure cylinder. 6 is a gas conduit connected with the hole 5 and leading to a regulator I0, and 1 is a conduit in the connecting piece 2 leading from the regulator I0 to the working chamber I2 of a gas piston motor. The gas piston motor consists of a gas pressure cylinder I4 and of a gas piston I3 which co-operate in known manner with the breech block mechanism of the gun. 'I'he connecting piece 2 is provided with an extension 8 having a conduit 1. The. extension 8 engages in the forward open end of the gas pressure cylinder I4 and is secured therein when the barrel is slid on to the gun.

According to the present invention the gas pressure motor. which consists of the piston I3 and the cylinder I4, is provided with additional means which serve to maintain the combustion sediment in a loose state, and is further provided with means which enable the loosened sediment to be removed automatically from the cylinder by the combustion gases.

In the constructional example illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 the means which serve to maintain the combustion sediment in a loose state consist of members I4, I5 adapted to perform rotary movements relatively to one another when the gun is operated, the said members I4, I5 being so constructed that adherence of combustion sediment within the gas pressure cylinder I4 is prevented by the relative movement of these members with respect to one another. The relative movement of the members I4, I5 may be effected by actuating means in a completely positive manner or, as is the case in the constructional example illustrated in the drawings. by connecting the members I4, I5 for movement with parts of the gun which, upon operation of the gun, move relatively to one another. It has proved particularly advantageous to connect one member I4 for movement with the gun and the other member I5 for movement with the support Il of the gun, since, as is well known, on the one hand the vibration of the gun upon discharge and on the other hand the movements, for instance the aiming movements which are carried out with the gun, result in relative movements between the gun and its support I1.

The member I4 in the constructional example illustrated consists of the gas pressure cylinder and the member I5 consists of a ring movably mounted thereon. The working chamber I2 is formed with cavities 20. These cavities are, as shown in Fig. 3 distributed over the circumference of the working chamber I2. Each cavity 20 is provided with ixed walls 2| to 24 and with movable walls 25. The cavities 20 are, in the present constructional example, formed of recesses in the gas pressure cylinder I4. These recesses are closed on the outside by the ring I5. so that the inner surface 25 of the ring forms the movable walls of the cavities 20. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the cavities gradually increase in size in the direction towards the working chamber I2, that is to say the opposing surfaces of the recesses 20 extend divergently towards the dividual cavities 20 have, as shown in Fig. 3,

sure l (supporting legs) to be attached to the ring I5 and to be mounted. The arrangement 30 consists of a forkl shaped projection which isprovided with a hole 3| for the insertion of carrying and securing bolts for the supporting legs I1.

The ring I5 may be movably mounted upon the I gas pressure cylinder I4 in the greatest possible variety of ways. In the present constructional example the ring I5 is rotatably mounted on the gas pressure cylinder I4 and issecured -by guide means 35, 36, 31, 38 against sliding on the gas pressure cylinder. The guide means consist of projections 35, 36 and of grooves 31, 3B. I:Phe projection which is carried by the gasv pressure cylinder I4 engages in a groove 31 in the ring I5, whilst the projection 36 which is provided on the ring AI5 engages in the groove 38 in the gas pressure cylinder. As is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the projections 35, 36 are provided with three recesses 40, 4|,.42 o r 43, 44, 45. These recesses are so arranged that the removal of the ring I5 from the gas pressure cylinder is only possible after rotating the ring through a predeterminedv angle. In the constructional example illustrated in the drawings, the recesses 43 to 45 of the ring I5 and consequently also projections v 46 to 48 on the gas pressure cylinder I4 disposed between the recesses 4U to 42 are of different sizes and are so arranged that, in order to remove the ring I5 from the gas pressure cylinder I4, the

yformer must be rotated through 180 by means of the supporting legs I5, (Fig. 5). In this posi- I5 can be removed from the gas pressure cylinder in the direction of the arrow p. As is clear from Figs. 1-5, the removal of the ring I5'from 4the gas pressure cylinder I4 is only possible after the barrelfl and connecting piece 2 have been removed from the gun, since the supporting legs I1 can only be rotated through 180 yand the ring I5 can only be removed from the gas pressure cylinder I4 when the barrel I and the connecting piece 2 have been removed. The barrel I fixed to the gun constitutes a securing means for the ring I5, in that the latter cannot be removed from the gas pressure cylinder when the barrel is fixed to the gun. It has been proved to be particularly advantageous'that the projections 46 and the corresponding recesses 43 should extend over`an angle "of '10 and that the projections 41, 48 and the .getherwith the escaping explosion gases. In order to protect the operator from the escaping combustion sediment, a shield 53 is mounted on 2,058,897 .working chamber; The webs 21 between the inthe gas pressure cylinder behind the openings 50; theshield 53 has a recess 54 which allows for the passage of the barrel through it.

The regulator Ill consists, in the present constructional example, of a stopper which is inserted from the sideinto a cylindrical opening 3l .in the connecting piece 2 and is rotatably carried therein. The regulating stopper is provided with a plurality, in the present constructional example with four, regulating conduits, 63, 64, 65, 66, which possess different internal widths and are so formed in the regulating stopper that any one of these regulating conduits can be brought into communication with the conduits 5 and 'I at will. The conduits 3 3 to 56 are so disposed in the regulating stopper that the latter has to be rotated through 90 for the purpose of switching in the next regulating conduit.

The combustion gases which pass from the barrel I, through the conduits 5, 5, the regulator I3 and the conduit 1 into the working chamber I 2 eiect a retraction of the gas piston in the direction of the arrow q, from the preliminary position illustrated in Fig. 1 into the iinal position illustrated in Fig. 2.

The combustion sediment or residues, the quantity of which is considerable when inferior power is used, since the combustion gases expand immediately upon entry into the working chamber, for the most part settle on the bases 25 of the recesses 20 and adhere to the same, if the bases 25 do not carry out, during firing, relative movements with reference to the side walls 2|, 22, 23, 24, of the recesses 20 in the manner according to the present invention.

The relative movement of the members I4, I5 in this type of construction take .place in the .direction of the gas cylinder circumference and are maintained in the following manner: Let it be assumed that the machine gun is supported on the ground by means of its supporting legs only. The operator who holds the machine gun outside the point of support afforded by the supporting legs is always able to produce the necessary relative movements in the direction of the gas cylinder circumference by turning the machine gun in the sleeve carried by the supporting legs.

Relative movements capable of obtaining the desired result may, however, also be produced automatically, without requiring the operator's special attention; this is possible, because the vibrations and percussions of the firearm during i'lring and the directory movements of the machine gun, particularly in a horizontal plane, cause more or less large rotary movements of the member I4 with respect to member I5, carried by the supporting legs. An explanation for this lies in the fact that the machine gun is rotatable about the axis of the gas pressure cylinder only at the front portion of the said cylinder, soI that the desired relative movement is produced by all the forces present as well as their components which influence and lact upon the machine gun, but have a direction other than the axis of the gas pressure cylinder or one disposed transversely with respect to said axis.

In those cases in which the machine gun is mounted upon a supporting means in such a way that, on the one hand, it lies within reach of member 30 and, on the other hand, at a point behind member 30, the required relative movement in the direction ot the circumference of the gas cylinder may be produced most simply in such a way that, after firing, the rear connection between machine gun and supporting means is freed, so that the machine gun becomes rotatable about the axis of the gas pressure cylinder. When the firearm is completely dismounted from the supporting means, the relative movement of members I4, I5 may, ofcourse, be produced by manual rotation oi' ring I5.

Relative movement of ring I5 with respect to the gas pressure cylinder keeps the residues oi.' combustion from freezing on. A loose condition of the combustion residues is insured by a permanent scraping action of members I4, I5, the loosened residues, after withdrawal of gas pressure piston I3 from the exhaust opening50, being expelled from the gas pressure cylinder at point 50 by means of powder gases. It has been demonstrated by experiments in which powders were used which produce large amounts of combustion residues that the members z, y, not only prevent all collection of dirt and incrustation of the individual elements of the gas pressure motor, but also assure uninterrupted firing. It will be obvious that all other foreign bodies, such as minute metal particles and the like, carried both by the powder gases and the combustion residues into the gas pressure motor, are thus most effectively kept from freezing on, and their automatic expulsion being assured by the use of the powder gases. The scraping action of members I4, I5 is increased by recesses 20 disposed at both sides of element I4. Said recesses are further provided with auxiliary means such as for instance, threadedA bores 55.

Said threaded bores simultaneously serve the purpose of scraping ofi and loosening particles of dirt which during dismantling of pieces I4, Ill may have gotten into the space of play left between members I4 and I5. Even if pieces I4, I5' t together rather tight, small impurities may still enter the space of play betweenmembers I4 and I5. However, such impurities will have no opportunity of settling down in the space of play, but will be scraped off, especially during the relative rotary movements of pieces I4, I5 with respect to each other, by means of the oblique edges of their threads. Threaded bores may be employed with equal advantage in the case of mutually rotating members (Figs. 1-7) as well as in the case of longitudinally displaceable pieces I4, I5.

In the constructional example illustrated in Fig. 7 the ring I5 is mounted within the gas pressure cylinder I4. The cavities 20 are formed in the ring I5, while the gas pressure cylinder I4 forms the bases 25 of the said cavities 20. In this constructional example the bases 25 oi' the cavities 20 yare accordingly connected for movement with the gun and the side walls of the chambers 2li 'are connected for movement with the supporting legs by means o'f the device 30. The members I4, I5, are moved relatively to one another by the 'relative movement of the gun with respect to the legs supporting it on the ground and thus adherence of combustion sediment on the walls of the working-chamber of the gas pressure motor is prevented so that the loosened sediment can be removed from the gas pressure cylinder by the combustion gases. 'I'he construction of the remainder of the gun shown in Fig. 7 is the same as that shown in Figs. 1-6; similar parts being designated by similar references.

In the constructional example illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, the members I4, I5 are arranged for relative movement with reference to one another, in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the gas pressure cylinder I4 or of the barrel I. The gas pressure cylinder I4 is mounted for axial sliding within the ring I5, which again is connected in suitable manner with the ground support of the gun. The recoil shocks and vibration oi the gun on discharge bring about relative movement of the members I4, I5 with reference to one another so that adherence of the combustion sediment in the gas pressure cylinder is again prevented. Accordingly, the loosened sediment can be removed from the gas pressure cylinder by the combustion gases. As is shown in Fig. 9, the opposite walls 2l', 22' of the chambers 20 are disposed parallel to one another in this constructional embodiment. The construction of the remainder of the gun is the same as that illustrated in any one of Figs. 1-6, similar parts being indicated by similar references.

'I'he gas pressure loaders described above and illustrated in the drawings represent naturally only constructional examples of the invention. The means for preventing the adherence of combustion sediment in the gas pressure motor as well as the devices which enable the loosened combustion sediment to be removed by the combustion gases may be arranged and constructed in the greatest possible variety of ways. If the means which serve to maintain the combustion sediment in a loose state consist of members which are moved relatively to one another, then any suitable member of such members may be provided moreover these members may be arranged to move relatively to one another in a very great variety of directions.

What I claim-is:-

1. A gas pressure operated gun comprising a barrel, a barrel casing and a gun support movable relatively to the casing, a gas pressure cylinder and a piston movable therein to form a gas pressure motor adapted to effect the operation of loading, a member associated with said gas pressure cylinder embodying one member connected for movement with the casing and a second member carried by the gun support, the said members co-operating in a relative movement when the gun is operated to loosen combustion sediment formed in the gas pressure cylinder.

2. A gas pressure operated gun comprising a gas pressure cylinder and a piston movable therein to form a gas pressure motor adapted to effect the operation of loading, said gas pressure cylinder consisting of two relatively movable members having cavities left therebetween, the walls of said members forming movable walls for said cavities and the relative movement of the members eiecting the loosening of combustion sediment in the gas cylinder when the gun is operated.

3. A gas pressure operated gun comprising a gas pressure cylinder and a piston movable therein to form a gas pressure motor adapted to effect the operation of loading, said gas pressure cylinder consisting of two relatively movable members, one of said members being provided with openings forming cavities in conjunction with the second member, the said openings in the irst member being distributed circumferentially with respect to the gas cylinder and being of a gradually increasing size in the direction towards the interior of the cylinder, the relative movements of the said members eiecting the loosening pi' combustion sediment in the gas cylinder when the gun is operated.

4. A gas pressure operated gun comprising a gas pressure cylinder and a piston movable therein to form a.gas pressure motor adapted to effect the operation of loading, said gas pressure cylinder consisting of an externally recessed hollowi cylindrical body and an outer hollow cylindrical body adapted to surround the externally recessed body and to form outer closing walls for the recesses, and means for moving the two hollow cylindrical bodies relatively to each other to effect the loosening of combustion sediment in the cylinder when the gun is operated.

5. A gas pressure operated gun comprising a gas pressure cylinder and a piston movable therein to form a gas pressure motor adapted to eilect the operation of loading, a series of spaced projections on a part of the gas cylinder, a hollow cylindrical body adapted to engage the spaced projections and to close one end, of each of the recesses between the projections, and means for moving the hollow cylindrical body relatively to the gas cylinder to effect the loosening of combustion sediment in the gas cylinder when the gun is operated.

6. A gas pressure operated gun comprising a gas pressure cylinder and a piston movable therein to form a gas pressure motor adapted to eiect the operation of loading, a series of spaced projections on a part of the gas cylinder, an outer hollow cylindrical body mounted for rotational movement about the spaced projections and in such a manner as to close the outer ends of the recesses between them, a gun support, and means on the outer hollow cylindrical body for the rigid connection of said hollow body with the gun support.

7. A gas pressure operated gun comprising a gas pressure cylinder and a piston movable therein to form a gas pressure motor adapted to eiect the operation of loading, a series oi spaced projections on a part of the gas cylinder, a. hollow cylindrical body adapted to engage the spaced projections and to close one end of each of the recesses between the projections, means for holding the hollow cylindrical body against longitudinal movements with regard to the projections, a gun support and means on the outer hollow cylindrical body for the rigid connection of said hollow body with thel gun support.

8. A gas pressure operated gun comprising a gas pressure cylinder and a piston movable therein. to form a gas pressure motor adapted to Yeffect the operation of loading, a series of spaced projections on a part of the gas cylinder, a hollow cylindrical body adapted to engage the spaced projections and to close one end oi each o! the recesses between the projections, a groove in the hollow cylindrical body. radial projections on. the gas cylinder adapted to engage in said groove to prevent relatively longitudinal movements between the hollow cylindrical body and the gaa cylinder, gaps in the wall of the groove which permit passage of the radial projections and removal of the hollow cylindrical body after rotation of said body through a predetermined angle, a gun support and means on the outer hollow cylindrical body for the rigid connection of said hollow body with the gun support.

9. A gas pressure operated gun comprising a gas pressure cylinder and a piston movable therein to form a gas pressure motor adapted to efect the operation of loading, a series of spaced projections on a part of the gas cylinder, screw threads formed on the outer surfaces of said spaced projections. an outer hollow body mounted for rotational movement about the spaced pro- Jectionsand in such a manner as to close thd outer ends of the recesses between them, a gun support, and means on the outer hollow cylindrical body for the rigid connection of said hollow body with the gun support.

10. A gas pressure operated gun comprising a gas pressure cylinder, a piston movable therein to form a gas pressure motor adapted to eilect the operation of loading, a series of spaced projections on a. part o! said gas cylinder, a hollow cylindrical body mounted for rotational movement about the spaced projections and in such a manner as to close the outer ends of the recesses between them, means for imparting relative movement between gas cylinder and the hollow cylindrical body to loosen the combustion sediment in the cylinder when the gun is operated and a series of outlet conduits leading from the interior of the gas cylinder and being directed rearwardly to permit ejection of the combustion sediment under the inuence of the exhaust gases.

11. A gas pressure operated gun comprising a gas pressure cylinder, a piston movable therein to form a gas' pressure motor adapted to effect the operation of loading, a series of spaced projections on a part of said gas cylinder, a hollow cylindrical body mounted' for rotational movement about the spaced projections and in such a manner as to close the outer ends of the recees between them, means for producing relative movement between gas cylinder and the hollow cylindrical body to loosen the combustion sediment in the cylinder when the gun is operated, a series of outlet conduits leading from the interior of the gas cylinder and being directed rearwardly to permit ejection of the combustion sediment under the iniluence of the exhaust gases and a shield provided on the gun in a position close to the mouths of the outlet conduits in order to protect the gunner.

. ANTON MAREK. 

